Genesis
God Provides For Hagar And Ishmael
God provides a son to Abraham and Sarah just like he had promised (vv. 1-7). God had given Sarah laughter in her old age, so they named their son Isaac, “he laughsâ€. Abraham circumcised Isaac on the eighth day to show himself dependent on the grace of God for the spiritual welfare of …
Jacob Mets Esau
Esau arrived with four hundred men to meet Jacob. If Jacob had wanted to fight, Esau was ready. Esau knew nothing of Jacob’s changed heart and found Jacob cautiously awaiting him (vv. 1-2). Jacob humbly approached Esau to ward off any retaliating spirit, as he bows to him (v. 3). This …
God Tests Abraham
The word tempt (v. 1) could better be translated test. God does not temp anyone with evil (James 1:13) but He does test. The Lord wanted to see if Abraham truly trusted Him to provide descendants as he had promised. Abraham gave instant unquestionable obedience. Would he try …
Abraham Tells Abemelech Sarah is His Sister
As this chapter opens, we find Abraham on the move. We are not told why he is moving but we find him rounding up his flocks and moving southward along the same road that has once taken him to Egypt (v. 1). Since God seems to be silent in this situation Abraham may have been acting …
Hagar and Ishmael
In this passage, we find a couple who refuse to take God at His word and decide they need to help Him out (vv. 1-3). The result was tragic, and we are still reaping the consequences today. Human efforts to assist in the fulfilling of divine promises always complicate matters. Under the strict laws …
Jacob’s First Encounter with God
The next eight chapters of Genesis are about Jacob. We see God saving Jacob (Chap. 28), subduing him (Gen. 29-32), separating him (Gen. 33-34), and sanctifying him (Gen. 35). Isaac gave Jacob some advice. He told him not to marry a pagan but to walk in the ways of the Lord. The reason for …
Jacob Marries Leah and Rachael
Jacob arrived at a well used by the local shepherds to water their flocks (vv. 2-3). The well had a large stone placed over it. Jacob chatted with the shepherds and asked about his uncle Laban (vv. 4-6). He also asked them why they waited to water the sheep. They said they had to wait for the …
Joseph Goes to See His Brothers Who Hate Him
The events of this chapter took place a few years before Isaac’s death, while Jacob and his family were living near Hebron (v. 1). The story begins with Joseph, the 17-year-old son of Jacob, bringing a bad report to his father about his half-brothers (v. 2). Naturally his brothers Envy him …
Laban And Jacob Make Peace
Laban claimed that Jacob had robbed him of his gods (v. 30) and presented himself as a hurt father (v. 28) and baffled avenger (v. 29). When Laban demanded that Jacob return the gods, Jacob put the death penalty on Rachael not knowing she had taken them (vv. 30- 32). He told Laban to go …
Jacob Moves His Flocks to Canaan
God could not allow Jacob to settle forever in the land from which years before he had called Abraham, so He allowed things to turn sour. Animosity was growing against him by Laban and his sons (vv. 1-2). Also, God had told Jacob to return to his own land (v. 3). Up to this point Jacob …